Free Web NovelChapter 304: Report of Krug’s Achievements
Rubedo watched the severed heads hit the courtyard dirt through the primary monitor. The execution severed the final magical tethers binding the Morval Dynasty to the Fourth Continent.
A massive wave of unclaimed golden mana erupted from the conquered territory. The energy flooded upward into the orbital sanctuary and pooled directly over the obsidian console.
Bounding onto the control panel, Glitch opened its jaws to swallow the cascading light. The concentrated magic poured into its expanding body.
The geometric runes along its spine ignited with blinding violet illumination. Glitch’s six legs elongated. A third eye snapped open in the center of its forehead.
A new system interface materialized across the screens.
[ VOID WEAVER EVOLUTION COMPLETE. ]
[ RESIDUAL CONTINENTAL MAGIC ASSIMILATED. ]
[ NEW SYSTEM MECHANIC UNLOCKED: SPATIAL ASSIMILATION RIFT. ]
[ DESCRIPTION: THE HOST CAN COMMAND THE ENTITY TO SWALLOW ENTIRE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES OR MASSIVE MATERIAL CATCHES. THE ENTITY CAN STORE AND TRANSPORT THESE ASSETS WITHIN A POCKET DIMENSION AND REGURGITATE THEM AT ANY DESIGNATED COORDINATE. ]
Rubedo dragged his finger across the projected map of the newly conquered Fourth Continent. The ruined cities and abandoned fortresses contained billions of tons of refined stone and iron. Transporting the spoils back to Bastion via the ocean fleet would take decades.
Rubedo looked at Glitch. He highlighted a sprawling armory complex in the Morval ruins.
"Go eat." Rubedo pointed at the screen.
Glitch leaped into the holographic projection. Glitch vanished from the sanctuary and materialized instantly above the ruined armory in the physical world. Glitch opened its jaws to impossible proportions. A massive vortex of violet energy swallowed the entire armory complex.
The stone walls, the steel weapons, and the foundation vanished into the pocket dimension.
Reappearing on the sanctuary console a second later, Glitch spat a digitized inventory manifest onto the screen.
Rubedo reviewed the itemized list of stolen weapons and building materials. He brought up the map of Bastion’s expanding industrial sector.
"Unload it in the southern quadrant." Rubedo tapped the new coordinates.
Glitch vanished again. The system feed showed the entire armory structure perfectly deposited on the outskirts of Bastion. The teleported materials were ready for immediate processing. Rubedo had completely erased the concept of supply lines.
Meanwhile, in Transtead, things had calmed down and the vanguard army had fully conquered the kingdom and removed each and every person that colluded with Voranthar.
Iron-Scale rested his claws against the polished obsidian table inside the captured Tarnstead fortress. A glowing map of the fallen capital illuminated the faces of the Vanguard commanders gathered around the projection.
"No matter how many times I see it, I still can’t get used to this thing. I am unable to understand how it works, but I sure would like this when we get back to the seventeenth continent. It’s so much easier to come up with war plans and strategy," Krax nodded to himself. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Why would we need this back at home?" Gulag asked. "The sovereign rules the seventeenth continent. There will never be a war there."
"That is true." Krax traced a finger along the eastern aqueducts to mark the suspected locations of the fleeing Earthlings, preparing for the extensive logistical planning required to navigate the fractured subterranean tunnels.
The central communication rune on the table flared with blinding violet light as Rubedo projected his voice directly into the command chamber.
A secondary holographic display materialized above the table to show the distant borders of Gildreath and Morval. "The Apostle has awakened," Rubedo announced, bringing his leadership council up to speed. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
"The chief has opened his eyes?!" Iron-Scale stood up in shock. "Where is he, my Lord?"
"He is on the fourth continent," Rubedo responded.
"Oh! Is he on his way here with the third vanguard team you promised?"
"The third vanguard team isn’t coming. There is no third vanguard team. I overestimated this conquest. Their gods didn’t interfere and the dynamics of the continents were different than how I imagined. In fact, the second vanguard team didn’t get an opportunity to shine because of it."
"Then, where is Chief, my Lord?"
"Krug marched straight into the eastern and southern territories," Rubedo continued. "He secured the surrender of Emperor Kronos in Gildreath and entirely conquered the Morval Dynasty a few hours later."
The visual feed displayed Krug standing atop a mountain of pulverized rock and crushed bone. Violet fire cascaded from his greataxe to incinerate the surrounding landscape. The Vanguard commanders stared at the projection in absolute silence.
Iron-Scale lowered his gaze to the floor tiles while Gulag dropped to her knees and bowed her head deeply. "We bring disgrace to your banner, Sovereign," Gulag rasped. "We spend weeks mapping borders and chasing shadows across this wasteland. The Apostle claims entire kingdoms between sunrise and noon, leaving us to ask for your forgiveness for dragging our feet."
Iron-Scale knelt beside the earth-weaver. Krax and Syra immediately followed the motion by pressing their clenched fists against the polished stone tiles. The commanders refused to meet the glowing violet eyes projecting from the communication rune, staring at the floorboards while waiting for their punishment.
"Stand up," Rubedo commanded, projecting an aura of absolute control. "You completely misunderstand your designated functions. Your methodical march across this continent serves as my daily entertainment. I look forward to watching you pick their civilization apart piece by piece."
The commanders rose to their feet as Rubedo shifted the projection to display the aqueducts of Tarnstead hovering above the table. "Krug delivered a masterpiece show," Rubedo stated. "He demonstrated absolute devastation. I only wish his performance could have lasted a bit longer before his targets turned to dust. Your campaign provides a different kind of value since you are breaking their minds before you break their cities."
Iron-Scale gripped the hilt of his dagger and pulled his shoulders back to face the projection. He raised his draconic eyes to meet the Sovereign’s gaze. The other commanders drew their weapons and slammed the blades against their chest plates in perfect unison.
"The amusement period is over," Rubedo declared. "Stop playing hunt with the remaining Heralds. Tell Novus and Hawl to flush them out of the sewers right now. Immobilize them and drag them back to the surface. I want them brought to the Vanguard lines bound and powerless."
